NBA 2008-09 Season

[CeltsHD]

With about a quarter of the season in the books, it looks like the Western Conference will once again have a quality team out of the playoffs. Currently, the Lakers, Denver, Portland, New Orleans, San Antonio, Dallas, Houston, Phoenix and Utah all look like they will finish with at least 45-50 wins. That would leave one team out in the cold, and if I were a betting man, at this point I would vote Dallas off the playoff island. But again, it's VERY early, so anything can happen.


In the Eastern Conference, IMO, Boston, Cleveland, Orlando and Detroit are virtual locks. Atlanta and a vastly improved Miami squad I feel confident will get there. That leaves two spots for the rest of the Eastern Conference playoff hopefuls. Going on talent alone, I would choose Philadelphia and Toronto, but then again they're both grossly underacheiving to this point. It's a long season, so we shall see.

 

[SabresRule]

Suns trade Bell, Diaw for Richardson

THIS is a very stupid trade.

 

[CeltsHD]

I still am keeping an eye on those damn Spurs.

Pistons are not looking good, but San Antonio... what is it going to take for these old fossils to wither away?

That's a good point about the Spurs, but I don't see them being able to keep up with the Lakers in the playoffs.

 

[SabresRule]

Cleveland didn't win by double-digits (101-93), but still won.

10 in a row, and they have a soft schedule- Philly, Atlanta, Minnesota, Denver, Oklahoma City, Washington, Miami.

 

[CeltsHD]

Boston, Cleveland and the Lakers are now a combined 56-8 (with the Lakers currently playing........and winning).

 

[salsadancer7]

I still am keeping an eye on those damn Spurs.

Pistons are not looking good, but San Antonio... what is it going to take for these old fossils to wither away?

Boys...it has been proven time and time again. All you need to do is be a top 3 or even a 4 seed. That's it! The regular season means ABSOLUTELY NOTHING in the playoffs....ask the Dallas Mavericks and 7 of the last 10 regular season "best record teams". In the last 10 NBA season, ONLY 3 teams that had the best record at the end of the regular season, and has won the NBA Championship....last years Celtics, the Spurs in the 2003-2004 and the 2000-2001 Lakes(I may be wrong on the dates, but I am RIGHT on the teams and he number of teams that have one it).....THAT'S it. So conclusion, do NOT make a big deal about the magical season your team may be having during the regular season....because IF you don't win the NBA champsionship.....then it was not that magical. The Bulls that won 72 games, had ALREADY won 3 out of the last 5 NBA Championships, knew full well that the "magical season" didn't mean crap if it did not INCLUDE a championship ring....and so did the fans.

...as Michael Jordan kept saying that season, "it's don't mean a thing...if you ain't got that ring....."

 

[salsadancer7]

Cleveland didn't win by double-digits (101-93), but still won.

10 in a row, and they have a soft schedule- Philly, Atlanta, Minnesota, Denver, Oklahoma City, Washington, Miami.

WHAT??!! I would not consider Philly, Atlanta, Denver and Miami a "soft schedule"....

 

[HD MM]

Cleveland didn't win by double-digits (101-93), but still won.

10 in a row, and they have a soft schedule- Philly, Atlanta, Minnesota, Denver, Oklahoma City, Washington, Miami.

Through the first half, the Cavs were just lingering. At halftime, they lead by only 2 points. At the end of the 3rd, the Cavs started playing and lead 84-65.

Then the 4th quarter came along and the Sixers showed some fight, but I'm happy just to get out of Philly with a win. For the second night in a row, a key player left with an injury. Two nights ago, Daniel Boobie Gibson left with a sprained ankle and is going to be out for at least 2 weeks. Last night, Zydrunas Ilgauskas went down, spraining his ankle too. X-Rays were negative, but we're still not sure of how long he'll be out.

The only thing that can derail this season is injuries. I hope this trend doesn't start compounding.

BTW, the Cavaliers streak of nine consecutive double-digit wins may have came to an end, but their win streak stayed alive, which is now at 10. Only Boston is hotter with 12 in a row.

 

[HD MM]

Not to point out the obvious, but that is Philadelphia’s Samuel Dalembert being abused by LeBron James. Dalembert is 6?11?. How high would you say James’ knees are off of the ground? Five feet?

 

[HD MM]

Suns trade Bell, Diaw for Richardson

THIS is a very stupid trade.

Stupid for who? I actually like the trade for the Suns.

Bell had amounted to a malcontent whose main role was complaining about Terry Porter’s system. Diaw had to be one of the most frustrating and wildly inconsistent players to ever put on a Phoenix Suns’ uniform.

In Richardson, the Suns gain an athletic two guard who can create his own shot (19 points a game). Can make 3’s (45% on the season). Can rebound from the two guard spot (over 4 a game this year and 5 for his career) and brings energy to a backcourt that had been showing signs of age.

The starting lineup now features four players who average over 15 points a game (Nash, Shaq, Amare and Richardson).

Richardson brings a new energy to a team that seemed to lack it over the last few months.

 

[Paul Wozniak]

Not to point out the obvious, but that is Philadelphia’s Samuel Dalembert being abused by LeBron James. Dalembert is 6?11?. How high would you say James’ knees are off of the ground? Five feet?

You and Lebron need to get a room. You're one step away from being a stalker.

 

[salsadancer7]

You and Lebron need to get a room. You're one step away from being a stalker.

It is kinda funny how much of a homer HDD is. :haha

 

[SabresRule]

Cavs and Celtics win again.

I'm starting to take these teams for granted.

 

[HD MM]

Cavs and Celtics win again.

I'm starting to take these teams for granted.

Sabres, what the Cavs and Celtics are doing is nothing to take for granted. This is history we're talking about!

At the 1/3rd point in the season, dare I say both teams are flirting with the '95-'96 Chicago Bulls, all time best record of 72-10!?

 

[CeltsHD]

Sabres, what the Cavs and Celtics are doing is nothing to take for granted. This is history we're talking about!

At the 1/3rd point in the season, dare I say both teams are flirting with the '95-'96 Chicago Bulls, all time best record of 72-10!?

HD MM,
I hate to admit it, but I think we have to include the Lakers in the 70 win discussion also.

The Lakers have the luxury of beating up on some of the Western Conference's bottom feeders (OKC, Clippers, Golden St, Sacramento, Memphis and Minnesota) three or four games each. IMO, the East has only one team (Washington) that's as bad as those Western teams.

That being said, I don't think the Lakers can beat EITHER Boston or Cleveland in the Finals. The Lakers, IMO, aren't physical enough to match up with the East's Big Two.

 

[SabresRule]

I can't believe Cleveland's winning streak lost to the freaking ATLANTA HAWKS?!

Those pathetic losers managed to get the better of Cleveland... wow, just wow.

 

[CeltsHD]

I can't believe Cleveland's winning streak lost to the freaking ATLANTA HAWKS?!

Those pathetic losers managed to get the better of Cleveland... wow, just wow.

While the Hawks might not be on the same level as Boston and Cleveland, I would hardly call them "pathetic losers".

 

[Paul Wozniak]

They almost eliminated Boston in the playoffs last season, and I believe they will make the playoffs again this year. A young team still searching for an identity.

 

[HD MM]

I can't believe Cleveland's winning streak lost to the freaking ATLANTA HAWKS?!

Those pathetic losers managed to get the better of Cleveland... wow, just wow.

Sabres, you're way off on your comments. The Hawks have an awesome young team! They're second place in their division and tough as nails at home (8-1). They also have one of the best front courts in the league with Mike Bibby and Joe Johnson.

As for the Cavs, last night was a well fought game and it came down to the end. The Cavs were on the second night of a back to back, home/away game and without Boobie Gibson and Big Z weren't as sharp as usual, but give the ATL some credit. This team is legit.

 

[CeltsHD]

The Celtics go for their 15th consecutive win tonight, against Utah at the Garden.